Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | Scrambling in Kananaskis Country (Highway 40)

01 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

Midnight Peak

Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 40)
Activity: Scrambling
Height: 2,339 m (7,674 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Distance: 9.8 km / Round Trip (6.1 mi)
Avg Steepness: 11.5°
Estimated Time: 3.5-6 hrs
Technicality: Intermediate
Fitness Level: Moderate

Download GPX: [Trail] Midnight Peak to Midday Peak.gpx
OpenStreetMap: See track recorded by GPS
Print: Display in printer-friendly format
Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin

Above stats is for only doing Midnight Peak. For whole trip stats, please see page 13.

I parked at Old Baldy Parking and took Baldy Pass. Some people take the pass to access NW gully as marked as "Alternative", but I took a route from GPS map Southern Alberta Trail Map. Instead of staying on the pass, I took the first drainage (quite steep) and bushwhacked the way up to west ridge. The west ridge had two up and downs but nothing was too much. Once on the ridge, simply follow the ridge to Midnight Peak (GR379494).

To unnamed summit GR385487 which I nicknamed "Midday Peak". (It's not fair why only Midnight Peak has nickname?) The route is as simple as it can get. Follow the ridge to the summit (see page 13). The difficulty is descent. There was many cliffy places in south side as I saw while ascending to Midnight Peak. If you are planning to do this loop, I suggest while on the west ridge of Midnight, check your descent route and make sure where cliffs are (see page 9 for route). I often take zoom pictures for later reference when I don't know the route, so that I can look my camera later if I need. From the summit, I went south and took a drainage (see page 16). According to topo map, there is another drainage west of the summit but by looking at pictures, I am not sure if you can safely decent. After waypoint "Waterfall" (see page 18. Not much of a waterfall actually) you will hit treeline. Once at this point I suggest to stay north of drainage as it has a few steep slab sections (see page 21). Every time I came across these I escaped by going north doing more bushwhacking.

At the bottom of the mountain, you will hit Porcupine Creek Trail. Stay on the trail for about 4 km, you will find an arrow sign (waypoint "Sign"). You can ignore the sign and take highway 40 to go back to the car or follow the sign and take this trail to go back. I got too close to government's secret facility and my GPS was scrambled and didn't record accurately at the end of the day, but if you take the trail, it will merge to Baldy Pass trail at waypoint "Junction".

02 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

Kananaskis Peak. Looks very impressive from this angle with snow covered.

03 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

I knew there could be some snow but it was far more than I anticipated. Winter again!!

04 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

Taking a break from ascending steep drainage. Looking at Baldy.

05 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

I wanted to go over this small rock band but with snow covered I couldn't do it. So I gave up my plan but I had to jump off from 1 m high slab. The landing place was steep and wet vegetation below snow it was very slippery. I knew I will slip, so I aimed a tree so that I will hit the tree to stop my self from sliding. Everything went perfectly except... well once I hit the tree all snow on the leaves came down on me... Horrifying!

06 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

Defiantly winter again. Mouseover to see names.

07 Midnight Peak to Midday Peak | 2010-04-23

Andrea didn't believe me when I told her how much snow there was. So here is my proof. As I said there was 20 cm of snow at bottom, 50 cm around treeline, 20 cm above treeline. There was even 1 m deep snow at few spots. All fresh. It was DejaVu of last Thanksgiving weekend, even the part I was the first guy at trail...